Sweden wants favorable EU-UK relations

British Prime Minister Theresa May today, 29 March, notified the European Council of the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the EU.

The notification starts the clock ticking and the UK will leave the EU when an agreement on the withdrawal takes effect, but not later than two years after the notification unless the European Council unanimously decides to extend the deadline.

“The UK has been a close and valuable partner in the EU. We regret the UK’s decision to leave the EU, but it’s good that the negotiation process can now begin after quite a long waiting period. I welcome the constructive approach in Prime Minister May’s letter. I would like to see orderly and results-oriented negotiations, and want our relationship with the UK to be as positive and mutually beneficial as possible even after the withdrawal. This is important for the UK, the EU and for Sweden,” says Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.

“Sweden’s key priorities are a good financial agreement where the UK pays for commitments made, and a good solution for the EU citizens who have exercised their right to settle in the UK, and vice versa. In the future relationship between the EU and the UK, we want trade relations to be as favourable as possible, and we want effective cooperation to continue in other areas, including security,” says Mr Löfven.